John Oliver came to international attention during 1988/89 when he won six prizes
for five compositions ranging from chamber to orchestral to electroacoustic music.
Among these the City of Varese Prize at the 1988 Luigi Russolo Competition (Italy), and
the Canada Council’s Grand Prize at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 8th
National Competition for Young Composers for his live electroacoustic work, El Reposo
del Fuego. Oliver has been commissioned by the Canadian Opera Company, National Arts
Centre Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, the CBC Radio Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, La
Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec, Ensemble Pierrot, and the St. Lawrence
Quartet, among others, and his music has been presented at several international
festivals, among them the ISCM World Music Days and the Juilliard School of Music
Pacific Rim Festival. Based in Vancouver, Canada, John Oliver writes music for acoustic
and electronic instruments. Oliver’s recent music combines familiar musical materials
and techniques with new inventions, with a view to creating a perceptually-based and
visceral experience. He is sympathetic to the “spectralist attitude”, believing that
music should resonate with the listener’s intellect, emotions, and kinetic impulses.
Master classes with I. Xenakis and Roger Reynolds, along with personal studies in
perception, psychoacoustics, and social theory have contributed to this direction.
Oliver’s formal training with John Adams, Stephen Chatman, John Rea, Bruce Mather, and
Philippe Boesmans also contributed to Oliver’s formation. He holds a doctorate in
composition from McGill University.